Issue - meetings

Members considered the proposals for a heating assistance scheme. Of the 68,400 homes in Thanet, 19.2% (13,000 homes) are in fuel poverty. This was compared to 12.9% for the rest of the South East. Since the winter period of 2020/21 energy prices had soared to an average £1,042. It was predicted gas and electricity bills for British households would rise to £2,500 a year in 2022 as a result of high wholesale gas and electricity prices and jump further to more than £5,000 in January.

The council’s energy advice and referral service had seen an enormous rise in calls. From June to August in 2021, seventy six clients approached the council for advice and assistance. This had risen to 250 for the same period in 2022. This was an increase of over 200%. The Housing Assistance and Disabled Facilities Grant Policy included both the Discretionary Housing Grants (DHG) and Urgent Repair Grants (URG).

These were intended to contribute towards the policy objective of reducing the number of homes with category one hazards. Category one hazards was those where the most serious risk of harm was identified. This included cases with no effective heating in their home. Council had identified a number of cases where a serious hazard, related to excess cold, had been identified but the owner had been ineligible for existing grants, despite not being able to afford the necessary work.

The new Heating Assistance Grants would form part of the council’s overall Housing Assistance and Disabled Facilities Grant Policy, which was last reviewed and adopted in 2019. The scheme would extend the eligibility for grant support to cases that might not otherwise qualify for assistance. Members were advised that to be eligible for this scheme amongst other things, applicants must be a resident in Thanet and be in receipt of a means tested benefit, or had an income below £31,000 per annum. In addition, the property must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F or G. Grants of less than £1,000 are not required to be paid back.

Grants over £1,000 would be required to be paid back in line with the Winter Warmth Grant protocol, set out in the adopted Housing Assistance and Disabled Facilities Grant. This required grants to be repaid if the occupant moved out or the property was sold within a 10 year period. Specific eligible works would include the repair of defective space heating, hot water systems, the installation of replacement, new space heating, hot water systems and increased insulation to improve thermal efficiency.

Councillor Everitt spoke under Council Procedure Rule 20.1.

Councillor Jill Bayford proposed, Councillor Bob Bayford seconded and Cabinet agreed the following:

1.  To the allocation of the remaining Regional Housing Board funds to create a Heating Assistance Scheme to enable households who are experiencing fuel poverty to access funding.